HEMP THE NEW AID TO BEAUTY

IN the eternal quest for youthful beauty, Australian women will soon smear
marijuana on their faces.

Hemp-seed oil will be imported into Australia and included in cosmetic
creams after a decision by the national drugs and poisons authority.

The oil contains THC or tetrahydrocannabinols, the ingredient in marijuana
that causes the effects sought by users of the illicit drug.

But with a legal limit of only 50 parts per million, addicts would have to
consume a vast vat of face cream if they want a high.

The oil, obtained from the ripened fruits or seeds of Cannabis sativa, will
also be used in the development of new products, National Drugs and Poisons
Schedule Committee acting chairman Dr Brian Priestly said yesterday.

"The way the legislation stood, any trace of THC would have made the product
illegal," he said.

But with or without hemp-seed oil, the vast array of face creams, toners and
cleaners available to Australians do not help in the fight against the
effects of times and weather, Australasian College of Dermatologists
spokesman Dr David Wong said yesterday.

He said there was no proof skin-care products achieved anything in the fight
against ageing skin.

"I tell my patients the most important thing to do for the skin is to stay
out of the sun," he said.

"I fundamentally disagree that toning, cleansing and moisturising
preparations have any real benefit for the skin.

"Cosmetic products do not claim any medicinal value because any such claim
would be tested and would have to be proven."

Dr Wong said skin thinning and pigmentation were sun-related problems.

He said coarse wrinkles were caused by laughter or frowning and finer
wrinkles were sun-related.

Dr Wong said the best example of the dangers of the sun to appearance was
found when comparing skin on the body.

Skin on the hip was smooth and soft while skin on the arms was coarser
because it was more sun-affected.

Dr Wong said people should just wash with a mild soap and if skin was still
dry after half an hour, use light moisturiser.

Adding to concerns about face creams is research showing daily use of
cosmetic foundation, moisturiser and night cream can increase the risk of a
facial rash.

The rash - perioral dermatitis - produces redness and spots around the
mouth, nose and cheeks, and can be mistaken for acne.

A hospital survey in West Australia of 130 sufferers has found moisturiser
alone was not significant, but moisturiser and foundation increased the risk
three times.

The survey also found women using moisturiser and foundation in the day and
a cream at night had more than 13 times the risk.

Checked-by: "Rolf Ernst"